Federal Sweep Targets Alleged Noncitizen Voters
Federal authorities arrested more than two dozen foreign nationals in California on Monday as part of a statewide sweep targeting individuals who officials say have illegally registered and voted in U.S. elections. The arrests were conducted under an operation dubbed "Operation Protect the Vote," which involved four U.S. attorneys' offices across the state.
The Justice Department stated that those arrested are lawful permanent residents rather than U.S. citizens. According to federal officials, the suspects face charges including making false statements on naturalization applications and submitting fraudulent voter registrations.
Among those detained was a 72-year-old man born in Belize, who authorities accused of voting illegally in four elections. The man was arrested in his pajamas at his home in Commerce, located in Los Angeles County.
Administration Efforts Ahead of Midterms
The arrests are part of the Trump administration’s effort to address noncitizen voting ahead of next month's midterm elections. Bill Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, told reporters that election integrity is important to the administration and that noncitizen voting dilutes the votes of American citizens.
Before Monday’s arrests, the Justice Department had charged about 90 people with election misconduct this year, including 50 alleged noncitizen voters. The federal government has demanded detailed voter information from states, suing 30 states and the District of Columbia to obtain it after some states voluntarily complied; these lawsuits have so far been unsuccessful.
Legal Battles Over Ballot Procedures
The Justice Department sued California last week and warned that local election workers who knowingly process ballots from noncitizen voters face potential investigation and prosecution. The administration also sued to prevent the state from counting mail ballots from people identified as "likely" noncitizens until their immigration status is confirmed.
The lawsuit followed a missed 48-hour deadline for California officials to review a password-protected thumb drive provided by federal authorities. The arrests reflect a further escalation in a simmering voter roll fight between the federal government and California that came into focus last week when the Justice Department sued the state.
While the administration frames these actions as necessary to secure elections, data indicates that incidents of noncitizen voting are rare and difficult to prove. Such incidents have not been shown to change the outcome of races.